Swine flu: hygiene is more effective than drugs

Published on Tuesday 22 September 2009 21:52

GREATER emphasis should be put on hand-washing and the use of face masks to stop the spread of swine flu rather than vaccines and antiviral drugs, experts have said.

A study published in the British Medical Journal said the current mainstay of pandemic plans seemed to rest on vaccines and antivirals like Tamiflu. However, a review of previous evidence found hygiene and physical measures, such as hand-washing, wearing masks around sick people and isolating those who might be affected, were very effective in preventing the spread of infections.

The research, by Professor Tom Jefferson from the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group in Italy and colleagues, analysed the results of 59 studies on the effectiveness of physical measures to stop the spread of respiratory viruses.

The most effective methods were found to be washing hands at least ten times a day and wearing masks, gloves and gowns around sick patients.

When combined, these efforts could prevent one case of respiratory disease for every three patients treated in this way.

Dr Jefferson said the whole focus of the current pandemic plans had been on vaccines and antivirals, describing this as an "obsession with vaccines that don't exist and antivirals which will probably cause you sickness as well".

In terms of wearing masks, he said those working in casualty departments would be those most likely to benefit.

Dr Jefferson said wearing masks at home when caring for sick people may work, but compliance was difficult – especially when the risks from something like swine flu had so far not proved that great.

The mass wearing of masks, as was seen in the early days of the outbreak in Mexico, has not been advocated by experts.